TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The acting Minister of Youth and Sports Muhadjir Effendy confirmed the government’s position amidst a string of rejections against the arrival of the Israeli U-20 football team to compete in the U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Indonesia.

Effendy said that this stand was expressed in a meeting between Commission III House legislators, the sports and youth acting minister, and the Law and Human Rights Minister on March 20.

"Our position is clear, the Indonesian government will not be edged an inch in terms of upholding the constitution," Muhadjir said in a meeting aired by the House of Representatives (DPR) Youtube account. "However, we have also committed to being the host of the event and agree that this is a strategic event that could elevate Indonesia's honor and dignity."

Muhadjir acknowledged that international opportunities such as this do not arrive often. The representative of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction in Commission III of the DPR, Muhammad Nasir Djamil was also present in the session and revealed that his faction strongly opposes the arrival of the Israeli national team to Indonesia.

Djamil even labelled Israel as a terrorist state, which has not been officially acknowledged by the government. The legislator argued that letting the Israeli team compete in the competition held in Indonesia equates to violating the constitution.

"This is not a religious issue, this is a matter of colonization and humanity. To this day the Indonesian government has not recognized the existence of the state of Israel and in the preamble, to the constitution we clearly can never accept colonialism," said Nasir.

In solving this dilemma, the Sports and Youth Minister is coordinating with FIFA to find other solutions and a middle ground or compromise which will not violate the Indonesian 1945 Constitution and FIFA statute.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH

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